Children discover the world of a foreign language, preferably across the border

Each year, the teacher of English and German at the Fran Kranjc Elementary School of Celje takes her most enforced students to exchange to English and German -speaking countries. This is an incentive and a reward for good work, and the assessment is not a criterion, but it is an English reading badge, and many of its pupils read Harry Potter in the original. In the final part of the school year, it puts on the heart that although the grades are important, they are not all, Children are much more.

Aleksandra Velenšek She has been a teacher for twenty -two years. When she started teaching, children began to learn English in fourth grade, and now she has been learning her first -graders. Therefore, it is no surprise that there is more and more English knowledge, but he points out that things are not black and white: « There are huge differences between eighth-graders and nine students. Some speak fluently, others have big problems. « 

She noticed great progress during the epidemic: “At that time, children were more in front of computers, on the Internet and because of the range of foreign language from all sources, this was known. But, I emphasize, there are two extremes. There are a lot of good students and many who know very few. There are fewer and fewer of those in the middle. ”This statistics confirms the national knowledge test, explains the teacher, who is also a member of the subject English Commission.

He observes similarly in German. There is also progress there, as sometimes children of another foreign language have only begun to learn in seventh grade, now it can be in the fourth. “This is very familiar. They are already in the seventh grade in puberty and do not dare to talk much. Fourth -graders, five -year -olds really know because they dare and dare more. In German, progress is even more aware of. ”He notes that there are fewer and fewer groups for another foreign language.

The system of another foreign language has already experienced many climbs, such as an attempt to introduce a compulsory other foreign language and fall. Students can now choose it as an optional optional or mandatory elective subject, but also the initial zeal often shakes. “They still have the will in the fourth grade, but then they see that they need to learn. I always tell them this is a free language course. Even if we went to a language course, we would have to learn to know. By the seventh, eighth, ninth grade, they are all too much. There are too many other objects, the second foreign language is difficult to compete with computer science, sports … is quite a decline. They really don’t give them as much as they sometimes do. « 

The teacher of English and German at Fran Kranjc Elementary School in Celje takes the most prominent students to English and German -speaking countries. Photo: Jože Suhadolnik/Work

London, Vienna, Munich

Although children know more and more, they experience shock when they come somewhere where English or German are the language of the environment. Precisely to hear what English and German are « in fact », the teacher, with her colleagues, takes them to London for one year, and the next one to Vienna or Munich.

“Those who attend German lessons go to Austria or Germany. It’s like a reward for them. Eight and nine-year-olds go to English, so we go every two years. But we have the criteria made, who can go. We reward those who are trying. This does not mean that only those who have five can go, but also have to do something extra, and above all they have to have a positive attitude towards the subject, students, teachers, all employees at the school. That this method is right is assured by a guide that goes with us every year. « 

One of the conditions for a student to go on a trip to London is the English reading badge. The library has books prepared for students, appropriate for their age and the required knowledge. But some show a lot more. “Many eighth graders and nine -year -old are already reading Harry Potter but The lord of the rings in English. That’s really amazing. They have to read five books and then tell about them. You can’t believe how thick books they manage to read and tell them about them. I really encourage them in that. « 

Because these excursions are additionally paid, the teacher is aware that they are not available for everyone, but they persist. “Some of these trips cannot afford the whole family, but they can make sure that at least a child will go. Because they only pay for one person. We saw that this is true after the epidemic. As soon as we returned to school, we did not plan to do so, but the parents encouraged the school management to go again. « 

The teacher, with her colleagues, takes one year to London as part of the above -standard school program and the next one or to Vienna or in Munich. Photo: Personal Archive

Students evaluate

It uses formative monitoring in class. It is a way of teaching where students do a lot, and the teacher directs them. In the week we visited them, they were preparing for a speech. They had no work at home. “We prepare the first part in a computer classroom or have a tablet where they seek the data they need from different sources. Then they have to prepare a poster independently. When preparing for a speech, they report to each other. They encourage, repair and help each other. We practice written compositions, writings. First, they write them individually, then sit in groups and repair them to each other. They are usually even more critical than teachers. « 

Part of the formative monitoring is that the student is responsible when he is ready. « Although we give indicative dates, but if anyone does not feel capable, it still gets time to repair it. » “If anyone talks too much, I tell him to describe another poster. To see if he can tell based on the given data. « 

Too much rush

If she could change anything at school, she would ensure that teachers again have influence, strength and especially respect. “If we do not do something, we will go into a crisis as in healthcare. After graduates, we see that there are no candidates for teachers. « 

She would not decide on any other profession. He says that the biggest challenge in Slovenian schools is not teaching at all, but relationships. “The students are less and less aware of each other and talk to each other, many do not understand a classmate in the right way. There is not enough emotional intelligence. That’s why I deal with this a lot. That they listen to understand each other, to put themselves in the skin of the other and do not do something they do not want anyone to do to them. Many people don’t even think about what they could do otherwise. This is not enough for today. To look at ourselves and think about whether we really want to do something or say something. Younger students also like to say that everything is a joke. It’s not all a joke. « 

This is how he talks a lot with children. This is especially important in the current most arduous work of the school year, when the latest grades need to be obtained and everyone is in need. Students, their parents and also teachers. During this period, the students want to trust in themselves, and to parents, to be able to listen to their children and help them. But not by doing tasks for them and dealing with the substance that children need to process. “Sometimes parents come to a talk watch and say they can’t help the student because they do not know English. No need at all! We have a lot of help at school, just need to use it. Parental mental support and conversation are more important. Maybe it’s not so bad at all, but it just seems to them and it’s a short conversation enough to feel completely different. «